Best Gaming Keyboards in the UK

The Corsair K70 ups the ante, outclassing even most premium models from most perspectives. From performance to aesthetics to comfort, this device comes out victorious against any competition. The keyboard looks great, so that's where we'll start.

First, the model's constructed from aircraft-grade anodised brushed aluminium frame. That means you can throw this 'board against the walls, slam without holding back when you suspect the competition is cheating or when the shots are not landing, you can put this device through the most inexcusable abuse without worrying about its safety. Now, we're not saying that the plastic matte keys and the RGB lighting modules inside will be able to withstand that abuse, so we might be somewhat exaggerating here but the housing can easily handle anything along these lines.

As you can tell, the keyboard looks brilliant, even compared to the company's previous high-end gaming models and most premium gaming keyboards. The RGB lights are vivid, the finish looks sleek and polished, even the bottom has this somewhat aggressive design that adds appearance points when you flip the keyboard. What's more, you can change every key's backlighting, which means the device offers endless customisation options.

The Razer BlackWidow 2019 builds upon its predecessors but without resting on these keyboards' laurels. Since the first model's inception, the BlackWidow line has become synonymous not only with precision but also with that tactile and clicky feel that gamers all but love. The same Razer™ Green mechanical switches are here and the tactile impression from these switches remains the same, gratifying, satisfying, and even somewhat addictive.

Adding to the switches' advantages, they're also protected from dust and moisture, which's great but too bad that the spaces between these switches are not moisture-resistant, so we'd not recommend spilling any drinks on the 'board anyway. What we can recommend though is putting the switches' optimised actuation and reset points to good use since the advantage you receive when the commands you input are being executed with blazing-fast responsiveness is enough to separate winners from losers.

Long story short, the switches are huge, we've established that. We are able to also establish the advantage that the Instant Trigger tech brings is nothing to sneeze at, cancelling any delay between separate key actuations and reducing the response time so that the commands are registered and executed even before you've pushed the key halfway through.

The Corsair K55 is almost three times less expensive than its relative that we've examined above, so expecting comparable specs is not something we'd recommend. That said, considering the mid-range price, the keyboard is pretty good, provided you do not mind membrane switches. With these switches, you have to push the button all the way through to make sure the input is registered and the command is executed, something that you cannot say about mechanical switches. What you also cannot say about mechanical switches though is call them quiet.

Not unlike most membrane switches, these keyboard's ones are practically silent, so you can game even with people sleeping metres away from you without disturbing them. Plus, they're pretty responsive (compared to membrane switches), meaning that you won't be forced to slam them to make sure the input has been registered. Apart from that, the model's shortcomings are limited to the 8-key roll-over, which is passable but not great by today's standards.

The device's construction is more than passable though, with dust- and spill-resistant IP42-rated housing guarding the circuitry against any accidents involving liquids and preventing any issues that arise from non-existent maintenance. While its plastic housing may not look the part, the model is pretty tough, so you can throw this one inside the backpack and bring with you to any LAN without fretting about what the road might do to the keyboard. You'll also be able to remove the wrist rest, making transportation more accessible and, when adjusted back to the keyboard, pampering the wrist with its soft texture that's both easy and pleasant on the skin.

Razer may not have always been the company known for pushing the boundaries with their cutting-edge technologies, but if there's one thing that could be said for certain, it'd be that the team of experts behind the company's products were never the ones to follow the pre-established patterns. On the contrary, these are the people that were always known for coming up with unique solutions to old problems, and there isn't a better example of that out there than Razer Ornata.

As you are probably aware at this point, most mechanical keyboards feature a much longer lifespan compared to their membrane counterparts, the keys themselves are much more durable, and the level of responsiveness is simply incomparable to your average non-mechanical keyboard. Nevertheless, despite all of these benefits, mechanical keyboards aren't without their faults either.

Setting aside the fact that these devices are often much more expensive, the majority of mechanical models are also heavier and noticeably louder than your typical membrane keyboard. And that is exactly where the model in question comes in. Even though this peripheral is being advertised as a membrane gaming keyboard, the device actually features a completely new and unique mecha-membrane setup that is neither entirely membrane nor mechanical, essentially combining the best of both worlds.

The Logitech G213 Prodigy is not quite as prodigious as the name suggests but only because the model's predecessors were already pretty impressive to begin with. The MMO crowd has been acquainted with Logitech's G-series for decades now, using the G-keys to bind macros and remap them to make sure you have more skills accessible within reach. Nowadays, even though the name is still there, the company's G-series is not always featuring these G-keys, catering to the entire gaming crowd and not only the MMO enthusiasts.

This keyboard is massive and we're not referring to the model's size alone, even though the size is pretty massive too. The issue here is that, while we like the wrist rest because it is generous and comfortable, the rest is not removable, so taking this keyboard with you entails certain challenges. Measuring 21.8 x 45.2 x 3.3 centimetres, the device should fit most bags and backpacks but the fit will be pretty tight. The feet are adjustable though, with two different levels allowing you to find the height that feels right and works for you on any surface. What's also attractive about the model's construction is its spill-resistant protective membrane, protecting the circuits and the electronics inside from merciless soda pops, coffee spills, and more.

While the G-keys are gone, the keyboard comes fitted with dedicated volume and multimedia keys, so you can play, pause, and skip tracks without minimising the game, adjust the volume, and more.